Decisions to make before you land
- Your arrival time decides the airport route. The Airport MRT carries most visitors into Taipei Main Station for NT$160, but the last express trains leave Terminal 2 at 22:55 and Terminal 1 at 22:58, and the last Taipei-bound commuter trains at 23:35 and 23:37 (Taoyuan Metro timetable, checked 3 October 2026). Land later than about 22:30 and plan the night bus or a taxi instead.
- You may not need a transit card at all. Taipei Metro gates and Airport MRT gates take contactless bank cards and phone wallets at the full single fare. A card such as EasyCard adds the NT$8 metro–bus transfer discount and works on city buses.
- Cash is a fallback, not a plan. Metro, 7-Eleven and the airport taxi rank take cards, but no official list covers night-market stalls and small counters, so carry some New Taiwan dollars.
- Shopping for gifts? The VAT refund needs NT$2,000 or more at one registered store on one day, and the operator keeps 20% of the refund.
- Hiking from Taipei? City trails and Yangmingshan's main paths need no permit. High-mountain routes in national parks need free permits applied for in advance.
Your planning order
Compare your ways into the city
| Option | Best for | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Airport MRT express | Most travellers to central Taipei | Last express about 22:55 from Terminal 2 |
| Airport MRT commuter | Late flights, stations along the line | Slower; last Taipei-bound train about 23:35 |
| Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 | Arrivals after the last train | Runs from Terminal 2 to Taipei Bus Station; fares and Terminal 1 times not published online |
| Airport taxi | Groups, heavy luggage, addresses far from the metro | Estimated NT$1,200–1,900 to Taipei City plus tolls |
The MRT fare is the same NT$160 on express and commuter trains, whether you pay with a token, a stored-value card or a contactless bank card (Taoyuan Metro, checked 3 October 2026).
Which way should you pay for rides?
| You are… | Tap this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Riding mostly the metro, short stay | Your contactless bank card or phone | No card to buy or refund; full single fare |
| Mixing metro and city buses | EasyCard | Bus acceptance and NT$8 transfer discount |
| Leaving from Taipei with balance left | EasyCard rather than iPASS | Any Taipei Metro or Airport MRT desk refunds it; iPASS refunds at three service centres or by post |
Neither card works as a High Speed Rail ticket. The NT$100 card fee is not refunded on either card.
If this is your situation
Bookings and forms that need a plan
- Before you fly: Taiwan's arrival card is online only and free, and since 15 July 2026 it can be submitted up to 7 days before arrival (National Immigration Agency, checked 8 October 2026). Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) covers who must file and visa-free stay lengths.
- Taipei 101: the general observatory ticket is NT$600, the 101st floor adds NT$380, and final admission is 20:15. Taipei 101 Observatory Tickets compares the fast pass and the top-deck options.
- Maokong Gondola: a ride is NT$180 and a day pass NT$300; stored-value card taps stop charging at NT$300 a day. It closes on set Mondays, with 12 October, 9, 23 and 30 November, 14 and 28 December still ahead in 2026. See Maokong Gondola Tickets, Hours and Crystal Cabins.
- Going south by High Speed Rail: a reserved standard seat from Taipei is NT$700 to Taichung and NT$1,490 to Zuoying, and booking opens 29 days ahead. Early-bird fares can beat the visitor discount; Taiwan High Speed Rail Tickets shows when.
Day trip: Pingxi Line and Shifen
- The pass only covers the branch. Taiwan Railway's Pingxi Line one-day pass is NT$120 (NT$60 concession), valid on the day of sale between Badouzi, Ruifang and Jingtong; Taipei–Ruifang is a separate NT$73 local-train fare (Taiwan Railway, checked 12 October 2026).
- Single tickets often win. Ruifang → Shifen → Jingtong → Ruifang costs NT$95 in single fares, so the pass pays off only with four or five branch rides.
- Watch the last trains and the waterfall's last entry. The last trains towards Ruifang left Jingtong at 20:30 and Shifen at 20:57 on the dates checked, and Shifen Waterfall's last entry is 16:30 from October to May.
Pingxi Line and Shifen from Taipei has the fare table, train gaps and the railway-track rules for sky lanterns.
Half-day trips: Beitou and Taipei Zoo
- Beitou hot springs. Take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi line towards Beitou or Tamsui and change at Beitou for the branch to Xinbeitou (Taipei City Government). The Beitou Park public bath has been closed since 24 January 2025 for rebuilding; the Parks Office FAQ (data updated 30 September 2026) expects the works to finish by 31 October 2026 and will announce the reopening date separately, so treat that as the end of construction, not an opening day (checked 12 October 2026). The free foot baths at Fuxing Park and Quanyuan Park open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00–18:00. Beitou Hot Springs from Taipei covers certified hotels and the museum.
- Taipei Zoo. Adults pay NT$100; children under 6 enter free and children aged 6 to 11, foreign children included, pay NT$50 with photo ID showing their age. The zoo opens 9:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and the Giant Panda House closes on the first Monday of the month (Taipei Zoo, checked 12 October 2026). The gondola's Taipei Zoo Station is about 350 m from the MRT station, so see the zoo first and ride the Maokong Gondola afterwards: Taipei Zoo Tickets, Hours and a Maokong Gondola Day.
- Avoid Mondays for both. The Beitou foot baths close every Monday, and the zoo's indoor houses and the gondola close on set Mondays.
What to recheck on the day
Timetables, fares and refund rules change. The guides above give each figure with its source and check date; open the operator link for the day you travel, especially for last trains and permit application windows.
